Immersed in a new world at boarding school, Addy Buckley learns she’s not the only one with secrets. While trying to navigate the minefield of painful lies that seem to be rattling around her family’s past, she meets soft on the eyes and heavy on the heart, Napoleon Blake.

When faced with the darkness, Addy must decide to cling to her new life and friends or let the monster carry her away. The choice is hers, sink or swim.

YA is published under Wendy L OwensAdult and NA is published under Wendy Owens

Wendy Owens is a writer, born in the small college town, Oxford Ohio. After attending Miami University, Wendy went onto a career in the visual arts. After several years of creating and selling her own artwork she gave her first love, writing, a try. It’s become a passion ever since. Wendy now happily spends her days writing the stories her characters guide her to tell, admitting even she doesn’t always know where that might lead. Her first series, The Guardians, is a YA fantasy series about angel and human hybrids.

Since then she has branched into NA Contemporary Romance and released titles to include Stubborn Love, Only In Dreams, and Do Anything. Her next romance, The Luckiest is scheduled to be released in July 2014.When she’s not writing, this dog lover can be found spending time with her tech geek husband, their three amazing kids, and two pups. She loves to cook and is a film fanatic.

Bunnita: I’m sure a lot of our readers would love to know how a day in the life of Napoleon Blake looks. Are you an early riser?

NB: *laughs. You know what they say, early to bed, early to rise makes people suspicious.

Bunnita: Okay, so not an early bird. How do you like to spend your free time?

NB: Well there’s how I like spending my free time and how I actually do.

Bunnita: Meaning?

NB: Like most red blooded american teenage boys I’d like to spend all my time having sex.

Bunnita: With?

NB: Again, like most, any willing participant would be considered. But of course when I am not thinking about the obvious, I’m out riding my skateboard or hiking. Oh, and then of course movies, I’m always consuming quality films.

Bunnita: Speaking of films, I hear you’re a bit of a movie buff.

NB: Some might say that.

Bunnita: What are some of your favorite films?

NB: I really hate that question. It’s like asking someone which kid is their favorite.

Bunnita: Isn’t that usually what people say about something they’ve created.

NB: Well it remains true for this to. How can you compare the comedic genius of Airplane to the emotional toll of E.T.

Bunnita: Do you only watch older movies?

NB: Of course not, it’s just ... something resonates with me in their scripts. A lot of people think they’re cheesy in the way that everyone works together to reach a common goal or happy ending, I find it admirable and something we should embrace.

Bunnita: Is there one incident that shaped your life?

NB: *swallows hard. My brother’s death. It made me realize what happens to the people who are left behind after you’re gone. I made the decision I would live the truest and fullest life I could.

Bunnita: Is there one person who always makes you smile?

NB: Well I’m a pretty funny looking guy so whenever I look in the mirror, I tend to laugh.

Bunnita: I doubt much of our female audience would agree with that statement.

NB: Seriously though? I surround myself with friends who make me smile. I can always count on Miyagi for a laugh. I never know what will come out of Julia’s mouth. But if there is one person I had to pick that I would drop everything to hang out with, it would have to be Addy. My head is always spinning with thoughts and ideas, but somehow, when I’m with her it brings me a calm.

Bunnita: Thanks for spending a few minutes with us to answer some questions.

NB: Thanks for getting me out of class for it.

Wash Me AwayBlurb:

Addy Buckley is probably one of the only people in the world who is thankful for a tragedy wrecking her world. For her, the boogyman was real, until one day, she was free, or at least that’s what she believed. Monsters have a way of following you.

Now, immersed in a new world with her Aunt and Uncle, at boarding school, Addy begins to learn she’s not the only one with secrets. While trying to navigate the minefield of painful lies that seem to be rattling around in her family’s past, she meets soft on the eyes, and heavy on the heart, Napoleon Blake. Faced with the darkness, Addy must decide to sink or swim.

Sixteen-year-old Kitty Lung has everyone convinced she’s a normal teen—not a secret government operative, not the one charged with protecting the president’s son, and certainly not a were-dragon. The only one she trusts with the truth is her best friend—and secret crush—the über-hot Bulisani Mathe.

Then a junior operative breaks Rule Number One by changing into his dragon form in public—on Kitty’s watch—and suddenly, the world knows. About dragons. About the Draconic Intelligence Command (DIC) Kitty works for. About Kitty herself.

Now the government is hunting down and incarcerating dragons to stop a public panic, and a new shape-shifting enemy has kidnapped the president’s son. Kitty and Bulisani are the last free dragons, wanted by both their allies and their enemies. If they can’t rescue the president’s son and liberate their fellow dragons before getting caught themselves, dragons might never live free again.

About the Author
Sarah is a 30-something YA author who currently lives in Orlando, FL with a 60-lb mutt who thinks he's a chihuahua. She believes that some boys are worth trusting, all girls have power, and dragons are people too.
She's a proud member of the Gator Nation and has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, but has switched careers entirely. She now works as an Event Coordinator for a County Library and as a freelance book publicist and author's assistant. She also blogs at YAtopia and video blogs at the YA Rebels.

I’ve been obsessed with dragons for a long time. I’m guessing it started with Pete’s Dragon and my longing for a dragon who would cook my apples with his fire breath and fly me wherever I wanted to go.In every fiction, they’re beautiful and majestic creatures, but that’s where the similarities seem to end.

It wasn’t until I started researching for Dragons are People, Too that the reason why dragons in fiction are so varied (intellectually, culturally, personality-wise) is because their stories originate from almost every major cultural region. To me, it’s mind-blowing to realize that all of these cultures independentlycame up with their own version of dragon myth.

From the typical fire-breathing winged dinosaur we all know and love, to the great dragon gods of Chinese mythology, all the way down to the kinda weird tatzelwurm of the Alpine myths (which I actually based my African dragons on), these myths have developed with their own local flavor, but with enough similarities to send shivers down your spine.

In DAPT, I use this collective mythology to build a world where the different dragon types are all just different races among the dragon species. They’ve evolved to take on human form as a result of human sprawl and the conscious desire (for the most part) to interact with humans in a civil way.

I had fun researching all the different dragon mythologies and am not done playing with them!

Monday, April 27, 2015

Summary from Goodreads:
“In the evening… [he] blows softly upon their necks, till their heads begin to droop. […] Under each arm he carries an umbrella; one of them, with pictures on the inside, he spreads over the good children, and then they dream the most beautiful stories the whole night.” ~ Hans Christian Anderson

Since the dawn of time, Brudair, otherwise known as the Sandman to the world, has faithfully lived out his purpose, faithfully performed his duties. He has never questioned his lot among the immortals, until now, until her. Sarah Serenity Tillman, a consummate beauty both inside and out, is a high school senior five months from her graduation. She has great plans, dreams of leaving the small town of her childhood behind her forever. But destiny has other plans, and it’s the Sandman’s job to make sure those plans are fulfilled.

The tall muscular Sandman, known as Dair to his friends, dressed in black, wrapped in shadows, is more than a myth. And he has a job to do. His very existence makes him a creature of the night, because dreams, (yes the legends got that part right), were indeed his specialty. But his purpose was more than just weaving dreams for sleeping children. No, his dreams were made to influence, made to ensure that certain special individuals, those individuals who would change the course of history, actually accepted their chosen destiny.

Little does Serenity know that she is Dair’s next assignment. And the dream that he weaves for her, if she follows its influence, will change the course of, not only her life, but possibly the whole of history as well. But she isn’t the only one being influenced. The beauty inside of her was weighing on the Sandman, lighting up the darkness that was his constant companion. Her light was warmth, it was life, and he didn’t understand how he had survived the previous millennia without it.

The Sandman was indeed greater than anything humans had ever imagined, and his purpose was vital to the course of history. So what happens when the weaver of dreams gets so distracted by a mere human that he ignores his own duties in the immortal realm? How can an immortal who was never meant to have a mate, join a young woman in her destiny without irrevocably changing the lives of millions and potentially altering history in a way the Creator never intended?

“Dream of me, Princess,” Dair whispered into her ear.
“Then weave me a dream, Sandman,” she said softly. “And we can dream together.”
As her eyes grew heavy, she heard Dair’s voice telling her to sleep, to open her mind to him and let him in. I’m all yours, she thought as sleep finally claimed her.

My Review:
I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into when I get to read this. I liked the book. It is written with a flow that makes it an relaxing read. I liked both characters well three I should say. Serenity is selfless. She is constantly helping others. Emma is a child genius but also very adult in the way that she thinks. Dair aka the Sandman is handsome but I found him very creepy. Serenity rationalized his stalkerish behavior but it just completely creeped me out and that feeling never left no matter how sexy his was.

There is a definite Christian tilt to this book so beware if that is bothersome to you. Sandman talks about the Creator. He speaks of how humans behave in a way different from what the Creator intended. There is also a males are the protectors, females are the nurturers speech in this so if these type of themes bother you this book may not do it for you. Though I didn't mind an author's propaganda in a book, this one was got to be too much at times. If I were to categorize this book, I would place it as Christian YA. I can understand why it isn't marketed as such (those of us who do seek out Christian fiction would overlook it) it is what it is.

Will all that being said, the story was good. The characters were thought out and likable. It is a book that will make you think and may even inspire you. Worth the read? Yes.

About the Author
Quinn is an award winning author who lives in beautiful Western Arkansas with her husband, two son (and one on the way!), Nora the Doberman, and Phoebe the Cat (who thinks she is a ninja in disguise). She is the author of twelve novels, including the USA Today bestseller, Fate and Fury. Quinn is beyond thankful that she has been blessed to be able to write full time and hopes the readers know how much all of their support means to her. Some of her hobbies include reading, exercising, crochet, and spending time with family and friends. She gives all credit of her success to God because he gave her the creative spirit and vivid imagination it takes to write.

I'm not sure if my mother predestined me to become a romance author when she named me after her favorite Kathleen Woodiwiss book, but that's what happened. Now I live and breathe all things books. When I'm not glued to my desk writing, I can be found eating too much chocolate, obsessing over Game of Thrones, and cyber stalking my favorite authors. Keep up with me on Facebook and Instagram. I love hearing from readers!

Friday, April 24, 2015

Summary:
Cheryl Greene thinks she's found perfection in Plez Jackson; a man she can stand still with, and a great father figure for her son, Lawrence. But she soon learns that what she thought was perfection is HARDLY that! Can she teach this DOG new tricks, or will she leave him where she found him, wagging his proverbial tail?

My Review:
This book surprised me. The cover screamed urban/street lit. Urban/street lit has become from predictable, cliche, and stereotypical. So what a refreshing surprise to read a story that is not bogged down in descriptions of designers clothing and other materialistic things. The Dog Catcher is a book that is about the story and the characters in it. The story is one that is relate-able to many.

Domestic violence is a clear theme throughout the book though not the only issue. Cheryl is a character that I can understand. She just find herself in one predicament after another. Which is easy to do when you are only looking at the needs of now without thinking about the consequences of tomorrow. Her meeting Plez is just a continuation of the broken cycle of her life.

This is a steady pace book for me. It wasn't a slow read but it definitively wasn't a fast read either. I liked the story and appreciated that it was a book that showed a complexity of black characters that weren't one dimensional and stuck on the superficial. One thing that put me off was the time period of the book. I do not care for books that take place in the past even if it's the recent past. Luckily for me, the time period is not essential to the book or this review would most likely have a different tone. Overall, it is well written and enjoyable.

About the Author:
Lloyd was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Although he's been writing since elementary school, it wasn't until he participated in a journalism workshop that he fell in love with writing.
Having traveled extensively, both domestically and abroad, Lloyd has also grown very fond of language; especially different speech patterns and inflections.
An avid reader, Lloyd enjoys book titles from; Sapphire; M.T. Pope; E. Lynn Harris; Terry McMillan; J. Randy Taraborrelli; and Walter Mosley.

*This book was sent to me by the author for an honest review.
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After the finale of The Stage, Mia comes to terms with where she’s placed in the competition. But that night, Kolton and Mia come face-to-face with both of their biggest fears: fire and loss. Not everyone will survive, and the challenges that their relationship cause won’t end when the show does.

Kolton needs Mia’s trust, and he’ll do anything to get it—even exposing himself and what makes him vulnerable. He’ll do anything to keep her. Knowing the choice is hers to make doesn’t make it any easier. The secret about the night of the finale, about the choices made in a moment of survival can’t stay hidden when a celebrity’s life is fodder for the masses.

In the midst of this chaos and loss, Mia has to balance her love for Kolton and the future of her career. Will she sign with him, letting him be her boss with control over her future? Or will she go out on her own, with a sup par record contract so that she stands on her own equal to Kolton in her own right?

When there are so many questions and decisions to be made, going on tour could either make things clearer or make all the weaknesses in their relationship pull to the surface. Those fissures either get stronger, or break so permanently nothing can repair them.

Shelby grew up between two mountains and a lake in Wasilla, Alaska. She used to run around in the tall grass, catch frogs, rescue dragonflies, ride horses, and ice-skate during recess. She still likes adventures and has even gone skydiving. Today she lives in Northern California with her husband, John and their daughter, Elise, their two dogs, and a fish named Jade.

Sign up here for Shelby's mailing list to get all the latest info on new releases, giveaways, and more. http://eepurl.com/Hnt7X

Alise has achieved the impossible. After her wings were chopped off, the fairy survived and now finds herself in the human world, once again hunted like prey by the sadistic Gorem.

Locating him with her help means that the two Guardians of Balance, Rafe and Vale, will not only be able to turn him in and make him pay for maiming her, but make him accountable for the deaths of other fairies as well.

Gorem has plans of his own for the rogue fairy. With the help of a wizard, Fabian, and an army of monsters by his side, Gorem will stop at nothing to recapture Alise.

With already so much on the line, Alise not only has to keep herself safe from harm, but will also have to protect her new human friend, Cassie, in the process.

Who will win the battle of good versus evil? Is capturing Gorem worth risking what remains of Alise's life?

Award-winning writer IoanaVisan has always dreamed about reaching the stars, but since she can't, she writes about it. After fighting the apocalypse aftermath in “Human Instincts”, she played with shapeshifters in “Blue Moon Café Series: Where Shifters Meet for Drinks”, she dealt with vampires in “The Impaler Legacy” series, and then she designed prosthetics in “Broken People” before tackling longer works like a fantasy trilogy and a science fiction series.

Aside from publishing short stories in various Romanian magazines and anthologies, she published a Romanian short story collection “Efectul de nautil” and the Romanian edition of “Human Instincts”.She received the Encouragement Award from The European Science Fiction Society at Eurocon 2013.

About Me

Born in the South, lived in the Northeast, and now living back in the South has created this diversity of culture and interests in me. I love creativity and it shows. I am friendly so leave comments, suggestions, and/or tips.

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